Fair Resources

About the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The 50th Annual Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair (July 18-21) is one of four official partner fairs that comprise the award-winning and highly-respected Ann Arbor Art Fair which for four days each July transforms Ann Arbor, Michigan into a spectacular outdoor art gallery featuring more than 1,000 professional artists and attracting half a million visitors. The 50th Annual Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is a juried, fine art event featuring the members of the Guild of Artists & Artisans and has 375 exhibiting artist booths, art demonstrations, entertainment, delicious food, and features special guests including the Carr Center Artist-in-Training program.

Location

The 50th Annual Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair includes two locations. The campus section is on State Street from Madison to William. The downtown section is on Main Street from William to Huron and Liberty Street from Ashley to Fifth Avenue.

Featured Artist: Alann Boatright

The 2018 Featured Artist was Alann J Boatright. Boatright grew up in Flint Michigan going to every open house Chevrolet had from 1959 – 1977. His dad used to say he was “weaned on a piston pacifier.” He loved everything about cars. He started painting with acrylics at 8 years old. He is self-taught as a painter. After attending school for advertising design, he took a job as a technical illustrator for the Department of Defense working for an Air Force Contractor. Until he wed his college sweetheart, his paintings were a hobby. She drove him to paint more and more. It was her that urged him to consider showing his work, and so, after 48 years of painting solely for personal escape and relaxation, he decided to begin showing his work. In January 2016, he applied to and was accepted into a show in Florida. It was the beginning of something exciting. His paintings are purposely filled with distractions, bright colors, found objects, funny situations, etc. to cleverly hide their real meaning. A closer look will reveal clues and hints, that once pointed out, reveal themselves so clearly, and in such a way that the viewer is awe struck and motivated to figure out another one.